Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024: Discover Innovative Perspectives on Artistic Expression in Japan's Craft Capital

The epicenter of traditional Japanese crafts

Kanazawa might be Japan's hottest destination for lovers of contemporary craft. Upcoming events like the Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024 and special visits to artists' studiosーall build on Ishikawa Prefecture's long history as a hub of artisanal and artistic masteryーmake this the perfect time to visit Kanazawa and find out more about what's been going on in Japan's art world.

Kogei, or crafts, have been a point of local pride in Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture for centuries: back in the samurai days, the wealthy Maeda family ruled modern-day Ishikawa from Kanazawa. Rather than using their considerable fortune for military or political goals, they spent resources building the region into a center of arts and crafts, establishing and supporting various craft industries by inviting artisans from around Japan. As a result, Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture have been known for centuries nationwide for all sorts of hand-crafted items, running the gamut from practical yet beautiful everyday tools to opulent artistic decorations.

Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024 is this year’s installment of Japan's only art fair explicitly focused on contemporary crafts, featuring work by fresh new talent and internationally acclaimed masters and held in a city with a virtually unparalleled history of artistic excellence. It is an art fair, yet so much more: it aims to show off innovative approaches to kogei crafts and how these artistic techniques are just as valuable as ever in today's world. Artists breathe fresh, contemporary sensibilities into techniques that have centuries of history, making this a fascinating time for art lovers to be in Kanazawa. There are hundreds of pieces on display to encounter across multiple floors of one of the city’s leading hotelsーno matter your tastes, you're certain to fall in love with something new.

There's even more to experience outside the hotel. For example, the National Crafts Museum opened its doors a few years ago at its new location in Kanazawa, with exhibits highlighting modern and contemporary work in kogei crafts. In addition to the museum's special events coinciding with the Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024, visits to local artists and various programs are also organized. Visits feature an English-speaking interpreter guide and often include hands-on experiences rarely available to the public. If you are an art lover or collector, even if you don't speak Japanese, you won't want to miss this valuable opportunity.

Special VIP commentary for "Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024"

The main event features forty galleries from Japan and abroad coming together at the Hyatt Centric Kanazawa to exhibit and sell hundreds of works by promising up-and-comers and well-established internationally active artists. Exhibitors include local artists and venues, as well as galleries like Taro Nasu, Kotaro Nukaga and Tomio Koyama Gallery, which boast a presence within the international art fair scene.

This year's Kogei Art Fair also features a special VIP-style tour with commentary. This is an excellent opportunity to discover recommended artists, popular galleries, and trends in arts and crafts and to get a closer look at the exhibited works. Bilingual interpreters are available to ensure that international guests won't have to worry about missing a thing.

Experience the National Crafts Museum in an entirely new way

The National Crafts Museum is organizing special events featuring commentary from the curator of the Imaginal Crafts exhibition, followed by a chance to view the works on display. English-speaking interpreters are available to assist with commentary and questions.

Another highlight is the museum's unique Touch & Talk program, an interactive way for guests to experience crafts through hands-on experiences with example pieces from the National Crafts Museum's collection. The focus is on works by leading artists, including Living National Treasures like Yasokichi Tokuda and Kunie Komori, as well as other masters of contemporary crafts. Rarely do museums invite guests to directly handle the items from their collection, making this an unforgettable way to hone your appreciation of kogei crafts.

Visits that offer lasting memories of intimate encounters with art

In addition to the above, exclusive visit packages are available, featuring an English-speaking interpreter guide to make it easier than ever to discover the cutting edge of art and crafts in Japan. Choose one or two destinations that particularly interest you, or visit them all for an even deeper appreciation of the past and present of art in Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture.

Terumasa Ikeda (Lacquer & Raden Inlay)

Terumasa Ikeda made a name for himself with a high-tech approach to traditional crafts, incorporating laser-cutting and CAD into his lacquering and raden mother-of-pearl inlay work to bring futuristic designs to life through centuries-old skills. A visit to his studio in Kanazawa will offer a closer look at how his intricately detailed works are created and a chance to see some of his past works and talk with him about works and crafts in general.

Akihiko Sugita (Lacquer)

Akihiko Sugita uses the traditional techniques of Wajima Lacquerware but with a distinctly clean, modern sensibility, leading some of his lacquerware to be used at prestigious restaurants overseas. A visit to his charmingly old-fashioned lacquerware studio provides the opportunity to learn more about his handiwork, the tools involved in the process, and lacquer as a material.

Yuichi Nakata (Ceramics)

Yuichi Nakata's work is beloved for its rustic lack of artifice, with an approach to coloration and brushwork that blends and mingles Japanese and Western sensibilities. Nakata's unique perspective informs these items that the history of ceramics and personal experiences are interwoven like a tapestry of an ongoing narrative still being told. His studio is located in a renovated machiya townhouse that was once a tatami mat shop, and visitors have the opportunity to encounter his philosophical worldview through both demonstrations of work and conversations with the artist directly.

Hitoshi Maida (Yuzen Dyeing)

At the Maida Kaga Yuzen dyeing studio, Hitoshi Maida and his father, Kenji, serve as leaders who supervise every single step of the Kaga Yuzen dyeing process. This holistic view of every step of the process, from start to finish, is rarely seen with Kaga Yuzen, offering visitors a rare chance to see everything from drawing the initial design, tracing outlines on the fabric in glue, to applying the pigments. Visitors can even try out some of these tasks for themselves. This workshop visit also includes a special dance performance featuring a geisha wearing a kimono made with Kaga Yuzen dyed fabric.

Yoca Muta (Ceramics)

Yoca Muta's works are hand-shaped to create results almost akin to paintings or ukiyo-e prints expressed in three dimensions, making her work exceptionally well received by collectors internationally. This visit brings guests to the new studio she established in 2023, south of Kanazawa in Nomi, to see the studio environment and how she works, alongside some of her past work, and to learn about artist's thoughts on crafts and art through interpreter-facilitated conversation.

Explore antique art at shops beloved by those in the know

A great way to complement these visits to contemporary artists' studios is to encounter and discover older arts and crafts at specialty shops run by people who are deeply passionate and knowledgeable about their wares. Kanazawa has been the center of various traditional industries for centuries, so it's no surprise that countless treasures can be discovered and rediscovered across the town. Join an English-speaking interpreter guide for visits to lovely shops and lively chats you will never forget.

Ishiguro Shouten Co., Ltd.

Ishiguro Shoten antique shop dates back to 1904 and still features beautiful wood latticework on its exterior. The building itself, a Kanazawa machiya townhouse, has been given special recognition by the national government. Inside, you'll find a selection of tea ceremony items, other antiques, and modern and contemporary craft items. The store is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, and visitors can enjoy matcha green tea served in antique cups, savoring it while looking at masterpieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hirajyuu

Since its founding around the mid-19th century, Hirajyuu has traded in antiques, with a particular focus on tea ceremony items. For generations, the family has prided itself on its refined sense of taste and style, continuing on to the eighth-generation owner of this shop today. The visit to the store is built around the theme of "The Joys of Drinking Vessel Crafts," and the shop owner will talk about the beauty of sake cups and servers, as well as dishes and utensils, all alongside light refreshments and sake.

Kashimoto Kin'yodo

This cozy shop offers a selection of tea ceremony utensils and other items carefully curated by the owner. For this visit event, the participants start by heading out from Kashimoto Kin'yodo's location near the Higashi Chaya District. They then walk through town to a traditional chaya geisha entertainment venue, where guests enjoy matcha green tea served in an artisanal craft cup. The owner loves Kanazawa, and the walking tour covers more than just antiques, with plenty to learn about local culture and history.

Shirai Bijutsu

Located near Kanazawa's famous 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Shirai Bijutsu was initially founded with the goal of offering a selection of excellent items to delight customers. Today, the shop focuses on local art with ties to Ishikawa Prefecture from the late 19th through mid-20th century. During the visit, the owner will talk about various precious items in his collection, and guests can also enjoy matcha green tea and sweets at the historic Shoutou-an tearoom at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Toda Shoten

Toda Shoten was established in 1975 and handles a wide variety of works of art, focusing on crafts and tea ceremony utensils from the local region. This visit features a lineup centered around lacquerware decorated with maki-e, a craft that has long been highly prized internationally. The shop also has a tearoom inside, providing guests with a quiet space to experience the tea ceremony firsthand using antique items.

Learn more and sign up for special visits and events

Find more information about the unique visits or events on the official website of the Kogei Art Fair Kanazawa 2024, or sign up for the premium tour or special events here. You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity if you're an art lover.